The Crookston High School held the first of hopefully many send-offs for juniors Halle Winjum and Emma Gunderson of the Crookston Pirates Girls Tennis team this morning before the girls were ready to leave for the Section 8A Girls Tennis Individual Championship starting tomorrow at the Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in Minneapolis. Students and teachers lined the halls to wish the girls good luck and well wishes. This is the second season in a row that the Pirates have sent individuals to the State Tournament, and both Winjum and Gunderson will be making a return appearance, this time as a doubles team.
Pirates coach Cody Brekken voiced his excitement for the girls being qualified for the tournament. “In the individual tournament, these two played really well throughout the whole tournament, only dropping eleven games in their three matches,” Coach Brekken explained. “They became doubles champions for the Section Tournament Individually and onto the State Tournament.” Coach Brekken also voiced his excitement for the school for recognizing them for such an accomplishment. “These send-offs are always huge moral support for the teams, and it’s a huge accomplishment to make it to a State Tournament,” Brekken explained. “It’s awesome to see the school recognize that and go that extra step to recognize any athletes that can get there, and it’ll be a fun time.” Winjum and Gunderson were also excited to see their school and classmates show them support and giving them the send-off, and felt ready to play some teams they hadn’t played in their regular season. “It’s always a lot tougher competition at the state level versus sections,” said Halle Winjum. “I know we can go out there and prove that we belong at State Tournament, but we have to be ready for anything. We’re not comfortable with these teams since we’ve never seen them, so they’re tough, but I think we can take them down and show them what we’ve got too,” said Emma Gunderson.
The girls will have their first match tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. against St. James in the first round and will play a second game at 2:00 p.m. regardless of if they win or lose the first game. The girls and their coach hope to make it in time to see the Team Championship match playing tonight in Minneapolis. Stay tuned to KROX Radio and KROXAM.com for more updates on the Section 8A Girls Tennis Individual Championship results.
